California’s Strong Revenue Trends Mask Looming Budget Risk

Jan 23, 2026 - The current discrepancy over the size of the state ’s budget deficit —$18  billion under the Legislative Analyst ’s Office estimate versus $3  billion in the Governor ’s budget —fits squarely within that pattern.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5104

The 2024-25 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

Jan 13, 2024 - About $8  billion of the Governor ’s spending ‑related solutions are delays. As a result, proposed spending is higher by $5  billion in 2025 ‑26, nearly $2  billion in 2026 ‑27, and roughly $1  billion in 2027 ‑28.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4825

The 2026-27 Budget: California's Fiscal Outlook

Nov 19, 2025 - Figure 3 General Fund Condition Under Fiscal Outlook (In Millions)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5091

Rethinking California's Reserve Policy

Apr 10, 2025 - In March of 2004, on the heels of the dot ‑com bust, voters passed Proposition  58, which created the Budget Stabilization Account (BSA). In the 2006 ‑07 budget, the Legislature deposited $472  million into the BSA and in 2007 ‑08 deposited $1.5  billion.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5028

The 2024-25 Budget: Deficit Update

Feb 20, 2024 - (Due to specific circumstances this year, changes in revenues are unlikely to have a significant effect on the state’s other major formula-driven spending requirements, specifically related to Proposition 2.)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4850

The 2023-24 Budget: Overview of the Spending Plan (Final Version)

Oct 16, 2023 - Appendix 4, Figure 8 Remaining Large One ‑Time and Temporary Augmentations From the 2021 ‑22 and 2022 ‑23 Budget Packages: Transportation General Fund (In Millions)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4788/4

Whether or Not to Tap Reserves to Solve Estimated Budget Problem Emerges as Key Fiscal Decision Facing California’s Legislature

Apr 19, 2023 - Other downturns, such as the 2001 so-called dot-com recession, had severe fiscal implications while inflicting somewhat milder economic damage. The 2008 Great Recession had brutal effects on both the state ’s economy and budget.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4762

The 2024-25 Budget: Proposition 2 Debt Payment Proposals

Mar 20, 2024 - Proposition 2 Proposition   2 Contains Annual Debt Payment Requirement. Proposition  2 created new rules regarding: (1)  deposits into the state ’s rainy ‑day fund and (2)  accelerating payments toward certain eligible debts.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4887

The 2024-25 Budget: Initial Comments on the Governor’s May Revision

May 17, 2024 - (The Legislature also can withdraw the entire “discretionary ” balance of the BSA at any time, which are amounts that were deposited into the fund on top of Proposition  2 requirements.) In the May Revision, the Governor proposes withdrawing about $3  billion from the BSA —significantly less than the roughly $12  billion withdrawal proposed in January.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4902

The 2023-24 California Spending Plan: Other Provisions

Nov 8, 2023 - Six bargaining units (Units 2 [Attorney and Hearing Officer], 5 [Highway Patrol], 8 [Firefighter], 9 [Professional Engineer], 13 [Stationary Engineer], and 18 [Psyc hiatric Technician]) have active agreements that were ratified before 2023.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4814